SSB
recruitment accused ‘not related to CM’s kin’Shimla, May 27Mr Kuldeep Kumar, Himachal Minister for Co-operation, has expressed surprise over the statement of BJP state President, Jai Kishan Sharma, alleging that Mr Sudhir Nischal
Chadda, a suspect in the alleged SSB recruitment scam, was a friend of the Chief Minister’s relative and said it was an attempt to divert the attention of the people from the misdeeds of his party activists.

Varsity does little
to raise fundsSolan, May 27
Despite instructions from the Additional Secretary (Finance) for sending a compliance report regarding land availability and other productive activities carried out by the university, the authorities of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry,
Nauni, near here, have shown little interest in the matter.

Probe panel to visit college todayHamirpur, May 27A two-member inquiry committee of the HP Education Department is to visit Thakur Jagdev Chand Memorial Government Degree College at Sujanpur Tira tomorrow.

‘Get animal trophies registered’Shimla, May 27
Donning the famous Himachali cap with attractive monal crest or wearing shahtoosh shawls could land one in jail unless those possessing these items, get these things registered with the wildlife authorities.

Girls shine in plus two examsDharamsala, May 27Girls made a clean sweep in the arts and commerce plus two examinations, the results of which were declared here today. Out of 15 students in merit, girls have bagged 12 positions. First five positions have been bagged by girl students.

Half-burnt body of woman foundSolan, May 27Half-burnt body of woman was found today morning from near Kasili village on the Chail road falling under Kandhaghat police station. The body believed to have been burnt by throwing an inflammable liquid on it had a rope tied round her neck.

Shimla, May 27
Mr Kuldeep Kumar, Himachal Minister for Co-operation, has expressed surprise over the statement of BJP state President, Jai Kishan Sharma, alleging that Mr Sudhir Nischal Chadda, a suspect in the alleged SSB recruitment scam, was a friend of the Chief Minister’s relative and said it was an attempt to divert the attention of the people from the misdeeds of his party activists.

In a rejoinder here today he said the state Service Selection Board, Hamirpur had become a den of corruption during the BJP regime and now that one of its leaders had been nabbed in connection with the recruitment scam, the party was trying to wash its hands of him. He said that everyone knew that Mr Chadda had remained President of the BJP Yuva Morcha and was always seen with the senior BJP leaders and ministers. The BJP leaders could not deny this fact. He advised them to accept the reality and not try to mislead the people by giving false and baseless statements.

Mr Kuldeep Kumar denied that Mr Chadda had any connection with any of the chief minister’s relatives. He said that investigations into the scam were on and the law would take its own course. There was no need for Mr Sharma for making such a statement unless of course, they had something to fear. He said that Mr Virbhadra Singh, Himachal Chief Minister has had a clean political career of over 40 years and such a misleading statement by the BJP leaders was not going to cut much ice as people of the state aware of the recruitment scam.

Mr Kuldeep Kumar said that investigation of recruitment scam was only a part of drive against corruption launched by the government and the Chief Minister had repeatedly made clear that those guilty of corruption, would not be spared and the innocent would not be harassed.

Solan, May 27
Despite instructions from the Additional Secretary (Finance) for sending a compliance report regarding land availability and other productive activities carried out by the university, the authorities of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, near here, have shown little interest in the matter. This is despite the fact that the university financial deficit reached a high of Rs 10 crore up till March 31 this year.

Directing the authorities to file a reply within a fortnight, the letter had stated that the universities were not meeting 15 per cent of the total expenditure, despite the thrust of the Government of India to make higher education self-sustaining. The provision of bailing out the university by providing grant-in-aid on a monthly basis was not sustainable, the letter had stated.

With a view to improving the financial health of the university, it was, therefore, decided to procure information like total land availability in the university, its use, income generated from such sources, details of crops being sown along with their output and yield figures and details of other productive activities.

The letter printed out that while preparing the budget for the year 2003-2004, performance budgeting must be carried out and a micro-budget be prepared for each administrative unit so that financial and functional viability of such entities could be scrutinised minutely.

The Comptroller of the university, Mr RP Sharma, when asked about the compliance report stated that the Director, Research, and the Estate Officer had sent some reports to him. Since these lacked the requisite details, they have been asked to submit fresh reports. He also said since the university was being run on an interim budget, facts were being compiled for regular budget, which was likely to be passed in July.

It is worth mentioning that the university audit reports have been time and again stressing on the 1,375 acres of fertile land in the university out of which only 375 acres are being properly used. The reports have pointed out that if plantation is introduced in a phased manner on the land, it could sufficiently add to the university resources.

Since there is no dearth of manpower in the university, these resources can be utilised to raise income from floriculture, seed production, nursery and dairy farming.

The Comptroller said details mentioned in such audit reports could also form part of the compliance report to be send to the Additional Secretary.

Hamirpur, May 27
A two-member inquiry committee of the HP Education Department is to visit Thakur Jagdev Chand Memorial Government Degree College at Sujanpur Tira tomorrow.

The committee constituted two senior officers of the department, Mr Dinkar Burathoki and Mr Vinod Kumar Walia. The committee will scrutinise the entire record of the college.

The committee has been asked by the state government to furnish details of the college functioning and it’s taking over on March 7, 2001, by the then BJP government in violation of all rules and regulations.

Three teachers and four non-teaching employees at the degree college have been working without salary since March 7, 2001, when the state government took over.

Sources said the state government took over the services of the entire staff, but santioned few posts of teacher and non-teaching staff. Several teachers with M.A. were taken into government service, ignoring the claim of those with Ph. D.

The report of the committee is to be handed over to the Vigilance Department for a final probe.

Shimla, May 27
Donning the famous Himachali cap with attractive monal crest or wearing shahtoosh shawls could land one in jail unless those possessing these items, get these things registered with the wildlife authorities. The amended wildlife Act has come into force from April 1. Those in possession of “undeclared” or unregistered animal trophies could be punished with imprisonment ranging from one to six years and fined a minimum of Rs 5,000 in the first offence under the Act. All those possessing animal trophies, animal articles, skins or keeping animals included in Schedule I and II of protected species.

However, the government has provided a one-time opportunity to get these registered in accordance with the Act by October 15. Mr A.K. Gulati, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Wildlife, said the department would conduct raids after October 15 to unearth unregistered trophies.

He said so far only 200 persons had got monal crest trophies registered. Due to lack of awareness, a large number of families possessed trophies of protected species like leopard, mush dear, monal, brown bear, bharal, Himalayan ibex, tahr, Kashmir stag, chiru (Tibetan antelope) and snow leopard had been registered. The total number of registered animal trophies was not more than 500 so far.

Those possessing trophies would have to apply for
registration. The Divisional Forest Officers, the Conservator of Forests (North and South) and the Great Himalayan National Park and the Director of the Pin valley National Park have been declared as authorised officers for registration.

After the registration the applicant would be given a certificate and the trophy or animal article would be duly embossed with an identification mark.

Shimla, May 27
The Himachal Road Transport Corporation has decided to install the satellite tracking systems on its buses plying in the remote areas on long routes.

Stating this here today Mr G.S.Bali, Himachal Transport Minister, said that the device would enable not only to keep track of the bus also take care of other aspects like fuel consumption, stoppage and breakdown.

He said the device would also facilitate communication through SMS service between the bus crew and the control room. It would particularly be useful in case of breakdown or other problems en route.

The corporation would be able to ensure that bus services ply per schedule even in remote areas. The device would cost Rs 25,000 and the system would be entrust to a some private company.

Mr Bali said that the corporation also planned to acquire air-conditioned buses for interstate routes. It was also purchasing 30 minibuses for plying as local service in the state capital to ease traffic congestion.

He said he had directed the corporation to supply mineral water to the passenger in deluxe buses.

Shimla, May 27
The state Election Commission has notified poll schedule for filling 236 vacancies of Panchayati Raj Institutions. The nomination papers will be filed on June 6, 7 and 9 from 10 am to 3 pm and scrutiny will take place on June 10. The last day for withdrawal of nominations is June 12. Polling, if necessary will be held on June 22. Counting of the votes will take place for members,
up-pradhans and pradhans of gram panchayats immediately after the polling is over. In case of members of panchayats, samitis and Zila Parishads votes will be counted on June 24. Election will be held for four Zila Parishad posts, 12 of Panchayat Samiti members, 19
pradhans, 24 up-pradhans and 177 gram panchayat members.

Dharamsala, May 27
Girls made a clean sweep in the arts and commerce plus two examinations, the results of which were declared here today. Out of 15 students in merit, girls have bagged 12 positions. First five positions have been bagged by girl students.

Shivani Aggarwal of Government Senior Secondary School, Nahan, topped with 417 marks out of 500. The second position goes to Shivani Anand of St Bede’s College, Shimla. She secured 411 marks while Shailja Thakur of Government Senior Secondary School, Anni (Kulu), stood third with 404 marks.

Giving details, the Chairman of the board said in all 43,062 students appeared out of which 22,646 passed and 9,154 had been placed in compartment. He said the students who wish to take supplementary examination in September could submit their forms without late fee upto June 30 and upto July 31 with late fee. Revaluation forms can also be submitted upto July 10 with late fee. All results are available on the website of the board and information can also be obtained from board on phone.

Solan, May 27
Half-burnt body of woman was found today morning from near Kasili village on the Chail road falling under Kandhaghat police station. The body believed to have been burnt by throwing an inflammable liquid on it had a rope tied round her neck.

Additional Superintendent of Police Prem Thakur reached the spot from Solan. Forensic experts who examined the body said that suffocation caused by the rope was the probable reason of death. Police officials said that the body of the woman was dumped here after killing her elsewhere. A case under Section 302 of the IPC had been registered at
Kandhaghat.

Suram Singh, head constable, was found with serious injuries in a jungle at Mashobra in March. He later succumbed to his injuries at the military hospital in Chandimandir. The case was entrusted to the CID wing for investigation.

Kumarhatti, May 27
The Solan police seized 7,600 pouches of three different categories of countrymade liquor from a truck at Dharja village near Nauni in the early morning today. According to information, the liquor was seized during a special naka by the police. Hira Lal, the driver of the truck, has been arrested.

Una, May 27
Property worth Rs 13 lakh was destroyed fire which broke out at a godown in Jhalera village, 6 km from here, this morning.

The store had cosmetics and related material when the incident occurred.

The owner of the godown, told reporters that a person, here, who was waiting for a bus, noticed smoke coming from the store and informed them. Intervention saved the fire from spreading to the adjoining shops. A new scooter and a drum full of machine oil were also removed in time.
UNI